Magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell, rope guide assembly, and vehicle

This patent document claims priority to and benefits of Chinese Patent Application No. 202321561754.5, filed on Jun. 16, 2023, and Chinese Patent Application No. 202320960679.3, filed on Apr. 24, 2023. The entire contents of the aforementioned patent documents are incorporated by reference for all purposes.

This patent document relates to rope guide equipment and, in particular, to a magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell and a rope guide assembly.

Vehicle winches are mainly used for off-road vehicles, agricultural vehicles, ATV sports vehicles, yachts, and other special vehicles. They are self-protection and traction devices for vehicles and ships. The vehicle winch has a rope guide for guiding and winding the strand rope onto the reel or drum. In the related art, a protective shell is mounted to the rope guide through bolt connection to protect the rope guide when the rope guide is not working. However, when the rope guide works, the detached protective shell is placed at will and thus tends to be lost.

In some aspects, a magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell according to some embodiments of the present technology includes: a shell body having an inner cavity for accommodating a rope guide; and a magnetic attraction member arranged on the shell body and configured to fix the shell body separated from the rope guide.

In some aspects, a rope guide assembly according to some embodiments of the present technology includes a rope guide and a magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell. The magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell includes: a shell body having an inner cavity for accommodating a rope guide; and a magnetic attraction member arranged on the shell body and configured to fix the shell body separated from the rope guide.

In some aspects, a vehicle according to some embodiments of the present technology includes: a vehicle body; and a winch device. The winch device includes a rope guide assembly. The rope guide assembly includes a rope guide and a magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell. The magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell includes: a shell body having an inner cavity for accommodating a rope guide; and a magnetic attraction member arranged on the shell body and configured to fix the shell body separated from the rope guide. The winch device is arranged on the vehicle body, the rope guide is located on a surface of the vehicle body, and the shell body has a protection position and a separation position. In the protection position, the shell body covers the rope guide, and in the separation position, the shell body is separated from the rope guide and the shell body is fixed to the vehicle body through the magnetic attraction member.

The subject matter described in this patent document can be implemented in specific ways that provide one or more of the following features.

Embodiments of the present technology are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the attached drawings. The embodiments described below by referring to the attached drawings are illustrative and are intended to explain the present technology but cannot be understood as limitations to the present technology.

Hereinafter, referring to, a magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell, a rope guide assembly, a winch device, and a vehicle according to example embodiments of the present technology will be described.

As shown inand, the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell of the embodiments of the present technology includes a shell bodyand a magnetic attraction member.

The shell bodyhas an inner cavityfor accommodating a rope guide. The magnetic attraction memberis arranged to the shell bodyand is configured to fix the shell bodyseparated from the rope guide.

Specifically, as shown into, a front end surface of the shell bodyhas a groove to form the inner cavity, and the inner cavityis configured for accommodating the rope guide. The shell bodyis provided with the magnetic attraction member, and the magnetic attraction memberis configured to fix the shell bodyseparated from the rope guide. In some embodiments, the rope guideis arranged on a vehicle body, and the shell bodycan cover the rope guide, so that the rope guideis located in the inner cavityto protect the rope guide. The shell bodycan also be separated from the rope guideand fixed on the vehicle bodyby the magnetic attraction member, so as to prevent the shell bodyfrom being lost when the rope guideworks.

It may be understood that the rope guide is not limited to being arranged on the vehicle body, and in other embodiments, the rope guide may be arranged on a hull.

The magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell in the embodiments of the present technology is provided with the magnetic attraction member on the shell body, and the shell body separated from the rope guide is fixed by the magnetic attraction member, so as to avoid the loss of the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell.

In some embodiments, the rope guidehas a guide openingrunning through the rope guidein a first direction (a front-rear direction as shown in), the shell bodyhas a mounting bracket, the mounting bracketis arranged in the inner cavityand can be inserted into the guide opening, and the magnetic attraction memberis arranged to an end of the mounting bracket.

As shown in, the rope guidehas the guide openingrunning through the rope guidein the front-rear direction, and the guide openingis configured to be passed through by a strand rope, so as to guide the strand rope. The shell bodyhas a mounting bracket, the mounting bracketis arranged in the inner cavityand extends forwards from a rear end face of the inner cavity(e.g., an inner bottom surface of the shell body, which is behind the inner cavity). When the rope guideis located in the inner cavity, the mounting bracketpasses through the guide opening. The magnetic attraction memberis arranged to the end of the mounting bracketto be able to fix the shell bodyseparated from the rope guide.

It can be understood that the magnetic attraction member is not limited to being arranged to the mounting bracket, and in other embodiments, the magnetic attraction member may be arranged on a front end face of the shell body, or the magnetic attraction member may be arranged on a circumferential wall surface of the inner cavity (e.g., an inner circumferential surface of the shell body, which is located between the front end face and the inner bottom surface of the shell body) and is flush with the front end face of the shell body.

In some embodiments, an end face of the mounting brackethas a mounting cavity, and at least part of the magnetic attraction memberis arranged in the mounting cavity.

As shown in, a front end face of the mounting brackethas the mounting cavity, and at least part of the magnetic attraction memberis arranged in the mounting cavityto fix the magnetic attraction member, so that the magnetic attraction membercan attract the vehicle body.

In some embodiments, the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell in the embodiments of the present technology further includes a buffer pad, which is arranged on the mounting bracket, and at least part of the buffer padprotrudes outwards from the end face of the mounting bracket.

As shown in, the buffer padis arranged on the mounting bracket, and a front end face of the buffer padis in front of the front end face of the mounting bracket. When the magnetic attraction memberattracts the vehicle bodyto fix the shell bodyon the vehicle body, the front end face of the buffer padis in contact with the vehicle body, so that the connection stability is improved by increasing the friction between the mounting bracketand the vehicle body, and also, the mounting bracketand the magnetic attraction memberare prevented from scratching the surface of the vehicle bodyand destroying the paint surface of the vehicle body. In some embodiments, the buffer padis made of buffer foam.

It can be understood that in other embodiments, the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell may not have the buffer pad, the magnetic attraction member is arranged in the mounting cavity, a front end face of the magnetic attraction member is flush with the front end face of the mounting bracket or protrudes forwards out of the mounting cavity, and the front end face of the magnetic attraction member attracts and abuts against the surface of the vehicle body.

In some embodiments, the magnetic attraction memberis arranged in the mounting cavity, one end of the buffer padis located in the mounting cavity, and the other end of the buffer padis located outside the mounting cavity.

As shown in, the whole magnetic attraction memberis embedded in the mounting cavity, the buffer padis arranged in front of the magnetic attraction member, a rear end of the buffer padis embedded in the mounting cavity, and a front end of the buffer padextends forwards out of the mounting cavity, so as to increase the friction and avoid scratching the surface of the vehicle body. Also, the buffer padwill not affect the attraction force of the magnetic attraction member.

It can be understood that the buffer pad is not limited to being embedded in the mounting cavity, and in other embodiments, the buffer pad is an annular gasket arranged on the front end face of the mounting bracket.

In some embodiments, the mounting bracketis a cylinder extending along the first direction, the mounting cavityhas a circular cross section, the buffer padand the magnetic attraction memberare circular sheets, and a chamfered surface is provided between a circumferential wall surface of the mounting cavityand an end surface of the mounting bracket.

As shown in, the mounting bracketis cylindrical and extends forwards from the rear end face of the inner cavity(e.g., the inner bottom surface of the shell body), the cross section of the mounting cavityis circular, both the buffer padand the magnetic attraction memberare circular sheets, and a chamfered surface is connected between the circumferential wall surface of the mounting cavityand the front end face of the mounting bracket, so that it is convenient for the buffer padand the magnetic attraction memberto be embedded in the mounting cavity.

In some embodiments, at least two mounting bracketsare provided, and the at least two mounting bracketsare spaced apart along a second direction (e.g., a left-right direction as shown in). The second direction is orthogonal to the first direction.

As shown in, the guide openinghas a strip shape (e.g., an elongated shape) extending in the left-right direction, and in some embodiments, two mounting bracketsare provided. The two mounting bracketsare spaced apart in the left-right direction, and each mounting bracketis provided with the buffer padand the magnetic attraction member. When the rope guideis located in the inner cavity, the two mounting bracketscan prevent the shell bodyfrom rotating around the front-rear direction relative to the rope guide, thus improving the mounting stability of the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell.

As shown in, the rope guide assembly in the embodiments of the present technology includes the rope guideand the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell in the embodiments of the present technology.

Specifically, the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell can cover the rope guide, so that the rope guideis located in the inner cavityto protect the rope guide. The magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell can also be separated from the rope guide, and further be attracted to the vehicle bodythrough the magnetic attraction member, so as to prevent the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell from being lost when the rope guideworks.

The rope guide assembly in the embodiments of the present technology includes the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell in the embodiments of the present technology, and the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell is fixed by the magnetic attraction member when separated from the rope guide, so as to avoid the loss of the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell.

As shown in, the winch device in the embodiments of the present technology includes the rope guide assembly in the embodiments of the present technology.

Specifically, a main body of the winch device may be a vehicle winch, and the vehicle winch may be arranged on a vehicle or a ship. The vehicle winch includes a relay transmission, a motor, a rope drum, and a clutch arranged in the vehicle or the ship. The rope drawn from the rope drum passes through the rope guidein the rope guide assembly so as to be guided, and the rope guideis arranged on the surface of the vehicle or the ship. The magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell can cover the rope guide, so that the rope guideis located in the inner cavity, thus protecting the rope guide. The magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell can also be separated from the rope guideand attracted to the surface of the vehicle or the ship through the magnetic attraction member, so as to prevent the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell from being lost when the rope guideworks.

The winch device in the embodiments of the present technology comprises the rope guide assembly in the embodiments of the present technology, and the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell protects the rope guide. When the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell is separated from the rope guide, it is fixed by the magnetic attraction member to avoid the loss of the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell.

As shown in, the vehicle in the embodiments of the present technology includes a vehicle bodyand a winch device.

The winch device is the winch device in the embodiments of the present technology. The winch device is arranged on the vehicle body, and the rope guideis located on the surface of the vehicle body. The shell bodyhas a protection position and a separation position. In the protection position, the shell bodycovers the rope guide. In the separation position, the shell bodyis separated from the rope guide, and the shell bodyis fixed on the vehicle bodyby the magnetic attraction member.

Specifically, as shown in, the rope guideis arranged on a front bumper of the vehicle body, and the shell bodyhas the protection position and the separation position. In the protection position, the shell bodycovers the rope guide, so that the rope guideis located in the inner cavity, thus protecting the rope guide. In the separation position, the shell bodyis separated from the rope guide, and the shell bodycan be attracted to the front bumper of the vehicle bodythrough the magnetic attraction memberor can be attracted to a front hood of the vehicle bodythrough the magnetic attraction member, so as to avoid the loss of the shell body.

The vehicle in the embodiments of the present technology includes the winch device in the embodiments of the present technology, the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell in the protection position can protect the rope guide, and the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell in the separation position is fixed on the vehicle body through the magnetic attraction member, so as to avoid the loss of the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that terms such as “central,” “up,” “down,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “inner,” or “outer” should be construed to refer to the orientation or position as shown in the drawings, and these relative terms are only for convenience and simplification of description rather than indicating or implying that the referred device or element must have a particular orientation and be constructed and operated in a particular orientation and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present technology.

In addition, terms such as “first” and “second” are used herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance or implicitly indicate the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, the feature defined as “first” or “second” may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of the present disclosure, “a plurality of” means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless specified or limited otherwise.

In the present disclosure, unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mount,” “couple,” “connect,” and “fix” should be broadly understood. For example, they may refer to the fixed connection, the detachable connection, or the integration; they may refer to the mechanical connection, the electrical connection, or the mutual communication; they may refer to the direct connection or the indirect connection through the intermediate medium, and they may refer to the internal communication of two elements or the interaction between two elements, unless specified otherwise. For those with ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure may be understood according to specific situations.

In the present disclosure, unless specified or limited otherwise, a structure in which a first feature is “on” or “below” a second feature may include an embodiment in which the first feature directly contacts the second feature and may also include an embodiment in which the first feature indirectly contacts the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, a first feature “on,” “above,” or “on top of” a second feature may include an embodiment in which the first feature is right “on,” “above,” or “on top of” the second feature, may also include an embodiment in which the first feature is obliquely “on,” “above,” or “on top of” the second feature, or may just mean that the first feature is at a height higher than that of the second feature. A first feature “beneath,” “below,” or “on bottom of” a second feature may include an embodiment in which the first feature is right “beneath,” “below,” or “on bottom of” the second feature, may also include an embodiment in which the first feature is obliquely “beneath,” “below,” or “on bottom of” the second feature, or may just mean that the first feature is at a height lower than that of the second feature.

In the present disclosure, the terms “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “examples,” “specific examples,” or “some examples,” etc., mean that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with this embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present technology. In this specification, the schematic expressions of the above terms are not necessarily aimed at the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and group different embodiments or examples and features of different embodiments or examples described in this specification without mutual contradiction.

Although the above embodiments have been shown and described, it would be understood that the above embodiments are illustrative and cannot be construed to limit the present technology, and changes, modifications, alternatives, and variants of the above embodiments made by those with ordinary skill in the art fall within the scope of protection of the present technology.

In some embodiments in accordance with the present technology (example 1), a magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell includes a shell body having an inner cavity for accommodating a rope guide; and a magnetic attraction member arranged on the shell body and configured to fix the shell body separated from the rope guide.

Example 2 includes the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell of example 1 or any of examples 1-7, wherein the rope guide has a guide opening running through the rope guide in a first direction, and wherein the shell body comprises a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket arranged in the inner cavity and configured to pass through the guide opening, and the magnetic attraction member arranged at an end of the mounting bracket.

Example 3 includes the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell of example 2 or any of examples 1-7, wherein an end face of the mounting bracket has a mounting cavity, and at least part of the magnetic attraction member is arranged in the mounting cavity.

Example 4 includes the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell of example 3 or any of examples 1-7, further comprising a buffer pad arranged on the mounting bracket, wherein at least part of the buffer pad protrudes outwards from the end face of the mounting bracket.

Example 5 includes the magnetic-attraction rope-guide protective shell of example 4 or any of examples 1-7, wherein the magnetic attraction member is arranged in the mounting cavity, one end of the buffer pad is arranged in the mounting cavity, and the other end of the buffer pad is located outside the mounting cavity.